Goalkeeper soccer gloves for the development of goalkeeper skills

ABSTRACT

Provided in this disclosure is a goalkeeper soccer glove. The glove is designed to have a low coefficient of friction on the palm surface. In one or more embodiments, this is done through using limestone neoprene.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/208,705, filed Jun. 9, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses related to goalkeeper soccer gloves and more specifically to methods and apparatuses related to the improvement of hand grip technique and the protection of the goalkeeper's hand from injury.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a goalkeeper soccer glove generally consisting of first material covering the palm surface and finger region—the surface that most generally contacts and which is intended to contact the soccer ball. As disclosed herein, a goalkeeper soccer glove with material has several benefits, especially in the training aspect of learning correct goalkeeper technique. The inventive glove also enhances sensitivity to the soccer ball and encourages the goalkeeper to apply the right amount of pressure to secure the soccer ball. Additionally, the inventive glove improves a goalkeeper's grip strength and ability to absorb the force of the ball being forcibly kicked in the direction of the goalkeeper.

Wearing the inventive glove during drills can simulate the stress and anxiety levels of the goalkeeper in a game situation, helping the goalkeeper to develop psychological strength and coping mechanisms. The negative consequences of poor goalkeeper technique are amplified by the inventive glove, amplifying and identifying small errors that can be corrected before they lead to larger errors in game conditions.

Thinner materials on the glove enhances sensitivity and kinetic awareness, helping the goalkeeper know, with greater accuracy, where the ball is in relation to the ideal catching position. Heightened sensory processing enables better approximations, making the goalkeeper more efficient at holding the ball. The lack of grip and padding on the inventive gloves teach goalkeepers to properly absorb the force or an incoming ball, thereby reducing injury risk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of one example of a goalkeeper glove according to some embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the top of one example of a goalkeeper glove according to some embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the top of a goalkeeper glove according to some embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective top and side view of one example of a goalkeeper glove according to some embodiments of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless he context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of states features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interested in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

New soccer goalkeeper training gloves for the technical development of ball handling are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the elements that may comprise first a goalkeeper soccer glove 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention.

In one preferred embodiment, each of the elements of the glove 100 comprise and are constructed, at least in part, with a first material that covers at least a portion of the palm surface 10. The palm surface 10 is the portion of the glove 100 is intended to contract the associated ball 102, including the underside surface 14 of the fingers. The first material 10 has the quality of providing little friction when contacting an outer surface of the associated ball 102.

Importantly, this feature is directly the opposite of most goalkeeper gloves, which feature sticky materials or grip designs to increase the friction between the goalkeeper's glove and the outer surface 110 of the associated soccer ball 102. Prior art goalkeeper gloves may incorporate specific materials which are “sticky” especially in the palm and finger areas to create high coefficients of friction between the palm area and underside surface of the fingers with the outer surface 110 of the associated soccer ball 102. Further, prior art goalkeeper gloves may incorporate specific grip patterns into the glove design, especially in the palm and finger areas to create high coefficients of friction between the palm area and underside surface of the fingers with the outer surface 110 of the associated soccer ball 102.

However, in the current, inventive goalkeeper glove 100, specific materials which are not “sticky,” or which will not have high frictional coefficients have been utilized, especially in the palm and finger areas to create low coefficients of friction between the palm area and underside surface 14 of the fingers 106 with the outer surface 110 of the associated soccer ball 102. Further, in the current, inventive goalkeeper glove, the grip pattern incorporated into the glove design, especially in the palm and finger areas, have been chosen to create low coefficients of friction between the palm area 114 and underside surface 14 of the fingers 106 with the outer surface 110 of the associated soccer ball 102.

The first material 10 may be constructed out of felt, foam, latex, polyester, nylon, or other similar or suitable materials which produce the desired low coefficient of friction between the glove 100 and the associated ball 102. A preferred material is limestone-based polychloroprene, sometimes knows as “limestone neoprene.” The main neoprene compound remains chloroprene and uses calcium carbonate from limestone to form chloroprene rubber chips. These rubber chips are melted down in an oven and go through a chemical process. The melted substance is infused with air bubbles and baked into a block of neoprene foam. This block is then sliced in any neoprene thickness needed to make the glove material, in thicknesses ranging from 0.4 mm to 4 mm thickness. In one embodiment of the invention, the coefficient of friction is less than one half of the coefficient of friction of prior art gloves.

In another embodiment, an extended wrist 12 may be configured extending from the first material 10 and backhand 20 of the glove 100. The extended wrist 12 is preferably of assorted lengths and can provide more support.

FIG. 2 depicts the stitching 16 on the top of the glove 100. In preferred embodiments, the stitching 16 is used to connect all elements of the glove. The stitching 16 may be made out of, but is not limited to, suitable materials such as Kevlar. The glove 100 contains a reinforced backhand 20 to aid the wearer in proper technique and can lessen the likelihood of injury.

In preferred embodiments, all materials contained in the glove 100 are thinner than prior art gloves so as to increase the wearer's sensitivity and kinetic awareness. For example, prior art gloves have a thickness of about 4 millimeters. The inventive glove 100 has a thickness of between 0.4 millimeter and 3.5 millimeters, with the preferred thickness being 2 millimeters. The materials may be layered.

While preferred materials have been described, the glove 100 is not limited by these materials.

With reference to FIG. 3 , the backhand 20 of a glove 100 according to the invention.

With reference to FIG. 4 , an associated ball 102 is shown being gripped by an associated user wearing the inventive gloves 100.

Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.

In one or more embodiments, a first goalkeeper soccer glove for the technical development of ball handling comprising: a first material covering the palm surface—the surface that contacts the ball, including the finger region; an extended wrist implement for more support; a thicker palm area; and a reinforced backhand.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: 

I/We claim:
 1. A soccer goalkeeper glove comprising: a. at least part of the soccer goalkeeper comprises limestone neoprene.
 2. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein at least a part of one soccer goalkeeper glove finger comprises limestone neoprene.
 3. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the palm surface comprises limestone neoprene.
 4. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein the palm surface does not comprise a sticky material for increasing the coefficient of friction between the palm surface and an object.
 5. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein the palm surface does not have a grip pattern.
 6. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 4, wherein the palm surface does not have a grip pattern.
 7. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, further comprising a wrist portion.
 8. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the soccer goalkeeper glove has a thickness of about 0.4 millimeter to 3.5 millimeters.
 9. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein the soccer goalkeeper glove has a thickness of about 2 millimeters.
 10. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein the palm surface has a thickness of about 0.4 millimeter to 3.5 millimeters.
 11. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein the palm surface has a thickness of about 2 millimeters.
 12. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, wherein the soccer goalkeeper glove has stitching that connects all elements of the soccer goalkeeper glove.
 13. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 12, wherein the stitching material is Kevlar.
 14. The soccer goalkeeper glove of claim 1, further comprising at least one layer of material arranged in at least one reinforcing pattern on the backhand of the soccer goalkeeper glove.
 15. A soccer goalkeeper glove comprising: a. the palm surface comprises limestone neoprene; b. the palm surface does not have a grip pattern and does not comprise a sticky material for increasing the coefficient of friction between the palm surface and an object; c. a wrist portion; d. wherein the soccer goalkeeper glove has a thickness of about 2 millimeters; e. wherein the soccer goalkeeper glove has stitching that connects all elements of the soccer goalkeeper glove and wherein the sticking material is Kevlar. 